QUESTION TIME.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12069, 26 July 1917, Page 4

QUESTION TIME.

HOW IT IS ABUSED

A PARLIAMENTARY INCIDENT.

[From Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, July 25.

Members of the House are beginning to recognise that the time-honoured privilege of questioning Ministers is capable, of leading to serious abuses. Through this menus allegations which may be absolutely unfounded got wide publicity before Ihe victims can put their side of the case. This nearly happened to-day, being only prevented by the promptitude of the Minister of Defence in getting information relating to the following question, put by Mr Payne, "Will the Minister of Defence explain why the sons of John Roberts and Mr Miles have not gone to the front?" Half an hour Inter Sir James Allen made a statement to Parliament. Members, he said, ought to be cautious in putting such questions' suggesting that men were shirking their duty. It was not right to do so without inquiring if the statement was correct. He had secured a report regarding the son of Mr John Roberts, a well-known Dunedin business man. He hod only two sons. One was Lieutenant-Col-onel Roberts, the other James Roberts, both of whom had been married ten years and had considerable families. Colonel Roberts was pronounced medically unfit and had been working at Defence Headquarters since August 4, 1914. "And," continued the Minister, "Jet me say that if he was fit to go to the front I consider his servioes here too valuable to permit him to leave. He has been of very material assistance." Dr Newman : Is he paid ?

The Minister: No. He has been working all the time without. pay, and T have to publicly thank him. (Hear, hear.)

The Minister added that. James Roberts volunteered but tvas turned down as medically unfit. Regarding Mr Miles, he knew that, one of his sons had been medically rejected. The other had been wounded at the front and returned to New Zealand.

Sir Joseph Ward made a suggestion which was received with hearty approval. It was that before any question reflecting upon individuals was asked by a member in the House he should inform the Minister privately and not be allowed to use names until the Minister had made investigations. "Nobody is going to be safe if someone, for reasons of his own, desires to have people's names bandied, about the House." declared Sir Joseph Ward, who urged members to make a deliberate concerted effort to prevent disunion and heartburning arising during the war.

The Speaker CSir Frederick Lang) expressed regret that under the Standing Orders he had no option but to permit, questions. He could not revise those asked without notice, but there was strict revision of questions on the Order Paper.

The Prime Minister: The House will support you every time in attending to the dignity of Parliament, if there happens to be a Standing Order or not. (Hear, hear.) We. all desire an improvement on what has taken place lately, and T am glad to hear that more_ attention will bo paid to these questions. The Speaker stated that absolutely unnecessary notes were attached by somo members to their questions. These were usually rigidly condensed. The privilege of asking questions without notice had been abused, and lie ••died Ministers and members to assist him in stopping the practice.